Do You Glow?

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The fifth of the “Ten Commandments” is to honor one’s parents. It is a mitzvah that brings to the fore an unlikely hero: Esav.

The Zohar tells us that there was no one in the world who honored a parent the way Esav did. This gave him the merit to be powerful in this world.

The Medrash describes how Esav had royal garments that he would put on when he would serve his father, Yitzchak. And so, when Yakov prepared to return to the land of Israel, he said, “I am afraid of Esav,” which Targum Yonason takes to mean, “I am afraid of Esav because of the mitzvah of honoring parents which he has been doing so devotedly.” In fact, the Pardeis Yosef explains, that is why Yitzchak liked Esav so much. Yitzchak saw Esav when Esav was doing the mitzvah of honoring his father, a mitzvah to which he was so devoted. Although Esav had so many shortcomings, this one mitzvah was one he excelled in, and when he did it, his Nishama (soul) was glowing.

When we examine mitzvos we find that this principle repeats itself. A person may or may not excel in many areas, but if he or she picks one mitzvah to excel at, the ramifications are remarkable.

Consider, for example, the mitzvah of Shabbos (the fourth of the “Ten Commandments”). The Talmud (Shabbos 119) tells us of a person who was known as “Yosef, the one who honors Shabbos.” One Friday, fishermen caught a fish that was so large that they suggested that only this Yosef would be willing to pay for it. Indeed, they brought it to him, and Yosef was so excited that he purchased the fish in honor of Shabbos. When he opened it, he found a gem worth a fortune, a blessing that is viewed as an endorsement of the way Yosef honored Shabbos with such devotion.

Indeed, the Torah when the Torah tells us to do mitzvos, it does not dictate exactly with what level of devotion we will do each mitzvah. You can buy Tefilin for $500 or you can buy them $1,500. And so on for all the mitzvos. It is up to us to decide what level of devotion we will pour in to each particular mitzva. G-d doesn’t need perfect people. But, when you pick a particular mitzvah to excel in, that mitzva will give you great self-satisfaction. More importantly, it will cause you to glow and achieve great heights in relationship with Hashem.

I recall that in yeshiva there was a particular local man who would come to collect for the needy in Israel. He hawked his offer every Friday with the cry, “Oif Shabbos,” appealing for money to provide chicken for the needy for the Shabbos meal. Although he did many wonderful things throughout the week, this was “his mitzvah.” He loved it dearly, knowing as he did, the impact that it made for families. Over two decades later, the joy he felt, and the shine on his face, remain with me as an example of how a person can glow if they exert and excel in a particular mitzva.

Another example: The last of the “Ten Commandments” is not to be jealous. The commentaries wonder how the Torah can dictate how we feel. They explain that a sensible person realizes that Hashem runs the world in a way that gives each person what they need. Yearning for someone else’s lot, is foolish. Imagine an elephant who sees the birds flying gracefully and wishes for wings. If his wish were granted he wouldn’t be able to lift off anyway (children’s fantasies notwithstanding); it would be considered a deformity. So it is with jealousy. Certainly, we can be inspired by someone’s success. But, to be jealous of someone else, is to distract us from our own mission. Focusing on our individual missions allows us to be happy with our lot.

Picture a person who decides to truly rejoice in other people’s successes. If a person is celebrating, (s)he wishes them well. If a person is going through a tough time, (s)he calls or emails just to give them a lift. Spreading good cheer becomes their mitzvah and makes them glow.

That is why it is so beautiful for people to choose a mitzva. Take heart from Esav, from Yosef who honored Shabbos, from people who rejoice in other people’s successes. Keep a notebook with source material. Record events and stories, like a sports fan collecting memorabilia of a favorite team. We may not excel at everything. But when we excel at something it gives us the opportunity to truly glow.

© 2017 by TEACH613™